Comparing the Kiddos

So, I think that Claire and Sam look quite a bit alike. I thought it would be fun to post some pictures of the kids when they are all roughly the same age.

Claire

Claire

Sam

Sam

Kate

Kate

Sam's First Photo Shoot

There is a nurse that works at the clinic here in Salmon that is trying to start up a photography business. The Provider she works for told her that Sam was the "picture perfect baby" so she wanted to take pictures for us for free! She did a beautiful job and I would recommend her to anyone who needed pictures taken. Her name is Jenny Etchart. She did a fantastic job even though her subjects were not very accommodating. Sam would not fall asleep unless he was swaddled. I guess he doesn't like having someone take his picture while he is naked and asleep. Can you blame him? I wouldn't want that either! He also peed and pooped all over every blanket she had and including my shirt.

Claire only let us take 3 pictures of her by herself. Kate would not even let us take one! She had her own agenda. At least we got her in on the family picture. I'm sure it was a combination of hunger and tiredness.

Sam Austin

Sam was born on 1/6/13 at 4:33 A.M. He was 20 3/4 inches long, 7 lbs 12 oz. My water broke at around 1:30 A.M. We went to the hospital at 2:30 and he was born two hours later. By far the fastest labor yet! He is so sweet. The nurses at the hospital just kept saying he looked like a c-section baby because his head was so round. He has a cute little nose and double chin.

His sisters are so proud of him! Claire is like a little mother hen. She hardly ever leaves his side. She always wants to hold him and stroke his head. She loves to help change diapers, give him sponge baths, and run errands for Mom around the house.

When Kate first saw Sam at the hospital she kept saying, "Oh, cute baby" and "I wanna keep him." I was relieved she didn't tell me to send him back. She loves to hold him for about 30 seconds and then she is "all done." She gives him kisses too.

We are so blessed to have our 3 kids and that they are all healthy, safe, and happy. I'm always so relieved when they get here safe and sound.

Happy New Year!!

 New Years was pretty fun at our house this year. Claire always gets so excited when she hears the word "party." We bought two new games that the kids picked out thanks to Grandma Connie and Grandpa Dale. We played a lot of games that night. Then we went over last years new year's resolutions and made some new ones. Then we made Italian Cream Sodas. Then watched a movie. Then celebrated the turn of the New Year at 10 pm. We made noise with instruments, threw balloons in the air, yelled, "Happy New Year!!!" and gave each other kisses. It was a fun night.

2013 Judy Family New Years Resolutions!

Claire--Go to the desert, say personal prayers, share, clean the house everyday, wash the mirror everyday, take a bath once a week and be clean for church, save money and pay tithing
Kate--Eat sugar, say personal prayers, share, save money and pay tithing
Jen--Go to the temple every other month, take the kids to a play, organize our house better
Dallin--Spend meaningful time with family, ride in a mountain bike race

We let the kids say their own resolutions. Some are pretty funny. I tried to get Claire to only wash the mirror once a week but she wanted to do it everyday and apparently she thinks she isn't clean enough for church. For the record she probably bathes 2-3 times a week already. :)

Santa Claus Came to Town

 Christmas morning Claire woke up at 0815. We tuckered them out Christmas Eve so that they would go to sleep easy and sleep in. I made Claire wait until Kate woke up. Kate woke up at 0845. I'm sure that was a long 30 minutes for her. She kept asking, "When will she wake up? Can I go wake her?" We all walked out together and took turns opening presents. Claire and Kate are close enough in age that it was almost like double presents for them! Claire got a horse barn, dress up clothes, stompeeze slippers, doodle bear, leap pad, art supplies, and a remote control My Little Pony car from Grandma and Grandpa Judy.

 Kate got a backpack, Little People Disney Princess Castle, stompeeze slippers, art supplies, a leap pad, and the same remote control car from Grandma and Grandpa.

 Our neighbor Dee has always been so nice to our family. She has babysat for us numerous times in the past. She makes the most beautiful quilts and has made our girls both quilts and Claire a sock monkey. This year she made our baby boy a quilt and also made Kate this bag and inside the bag were 4 little handmade dolls. Cutest thing ever!! We are so thankful for her!

Our family has been so blessed this year! We are so lucky to spend everyday with each other in a safe town and a warm home. We have been blessed with health and happiness!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve Eve

Isn't she just adorable!?

Making Santa's Cookies

Annual Sleep by the Christmas Tree

This year the kids opened up a present from Grandma and Grandpa Judy, princess nightgowns with matching dolls...big hit! We also watched Frosty the Snowman and slept by the Christmas Tree. By the tree and not under the tree. Have to clarify that according to Claire. We always do this the night of the 23rd. Dad was a party pooper and slept in his own bed.

Dr. Suess and a Shower

Lori Smith, Diane Dahle, Jenny Dahle

 My wonderful friends here in Salmon wanted to throw me a baby shower for our soon to be born little boy and I. I was much appreciative since we don't really have any boy clothes. I have now grown more thankful for the hand me down clothes that my sisters Diana and Lori, my brother Brad, and my sister in law Melissa have given me over the years for the girls. I never realized how expensive it is to buy everything yourself, they grow out of everything so fast and then you have to start all over again buying clothes. Since we are toying with the name Sam it gave Stephanie Orr the idea to have a Dr. Suess themed shower...Sam I Am. It was so cute and fun and I got a lot of cute presents. Thank you so much to my dear friends, Stephanie Orr, Stacey Oliverson, Hailey Linger, and Tiffany Clausse for throwing me such a fun shower.

Hailey Linger, Tiffany Clausse